I spend my time in the administrative offices, which are in a completely separate location from the actual shelter. In truth, my contact with the residents is limited.

They'll have to sustain flooding for a longer period of time. It's a tough call, a political decision I neither want nor am able to make.

I think it's time for a change. There are many people out here that are qualified to serve. I don't expect to spend a lot of time in office.

In July of 2010, I lost my finance job in Chicago. Instead of updating my resume and looking for a similar job, I decided to forget about money and have a go at something I truly enjoyed. I'd purchased a semi-professional camera earlier that year and spent my free time taking photos in downtown Chicago.

I hate striking out, but at the same time, I'm much better at letting them go rather than, earlier in my career, worrying about it so much before the next at-bat against the guy. You grow as you play, and every year, I work to cut them down.

I've written a lot of books in my time, and to write a book about Joe McCarthy and have some of the major media paying attention, I'm not used to that.